Thaindian News

Jalandhar (Punjab), June 16 (IANS) As many as 35 Punjabi youths, who went missing on their way to Spain in 2004, are in the captivity of a man in the jungles of West African Islamic Republic of Mauritania, according to their families.

Their distressed family members have got the information from a Spain-based Punjabi journalist, Harpal Singh.

“I am in touch with Harpal for the last two years. He told me that a man named Mohammad has kept 35 Punjabi youths captive as he is waiting for some payment from a Punjab-based travel agent,” said Sucha Singh of Thigli village in Kapurthala district. Sucha’s brother Vijay is stranded there.

“Thirtyseven Punjabi youths had gone to Spain in 2004, but two of them died in the captive camp,” he said.

“We had paid Rs.4 to 7 lakh to a travel agent to send these boys illegally to Spain. The agent had also promised to provide lucrative jobs to them,” Singh said.

Said Joginder Kaur, mother of another victim youth Gurpreet Singh: “We had got a call from Gurpreet only once, then we lost track.”

“The travel agent had promised to take them to Spain through sea route via Africa. Then they said their boat met with an accident and they died,” she added.

Most of the victims were youths from lower middle-class families and had taken loans to fulfil their foreign dreams. Their families, from different parts of Punjab, have now approached Punjab-based NGO Lok Bhalai Party (LBP) for their rescue.

“We have started pursuing this case and collected the details of all the 35 youths. I have also talked to the Spain-based journalist who had written about this matter in a newspaper there,” LBP president Balwant Singh Ramoowalia told IANS.

“I will take up this matter with the external affairs ministry and if needed I will myself go to Africa to take up this case,” he added.

The LBP is working for the rights of tens of hundreds of Indians stranded abroad for the last many years.